Specifics of Thematization of the Problem of Identity in Transcendental Phenomenology and Philosophy of Deconstruction

Abstract

This article analyses the ways of thematization of the concept of identity in transcendental philosophy, represented by Descartes’s, Kant’s, Husserl’s and Derrida’s conceptions as the main marks of transcendental thought. A special attention is devoted to phenomenological-deconstructive line of transcendentalism. Generally the investigation is devoted to theoretical foundations of a problem of identity. The article demonstrates, how on the ground of deconstructive philosophy an overlapping of theoretical and practical topics connected with the question of identity takes place, which accords entirely with general for transcendental attitude tendency to overlapping of theoretical and practical fields. The author propose some terminological unification, which allows to regard ukrainian notions «тотожність» and «ідентичність» as one and the same concept saving an identity discourse of false reduction. It is noticed that on the transcendental ground a convergence between such initially diverse fields of thematization of identity as identity of subject and identity of system arises. The article shows that identity problem is essentially tied with the idea of difference. The primacy of the latter is in turn one of main characteristics of transcendental approach. The «transcendental aporias» are disclosed that result from correlation between identity and difference: the problem of ideal repetition and principle of iterability; status of transcendental subject as a bearer of identity and so guarantor of transcendental system of thinking, based on the principle of difference. The author introduces a distinction between two dimensions of meaning and understanding of identity, the first of which is guided by discourse of truth (associated with logical order) and the second – by discourse of value (associated with existential order). The investigation allows to identify three main directions of setting of an identity problem in Derridian philosophy: a problem of identity of system of Western philosophical tradition, a problem of Derrida’s own philosophical identity, and also a question of his national and cultural identity. Interconnection of all this directions is considered as such experience of theoretical-practical generalization that can serve as example of integral approach to the identity problem. The article affirms actuality of such an approach in today cultural and philosophical situation, when the concept of identity turns out to be as popular as vague and therefore demands of careful historical-philosophical elaboration.